The Saints I

Eph.1:¹ (NRSV) “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus” (emphasis added)

I have discovered in my little walk with God and my little work for God, regardless of all the pendulum and all the pressure, by the time you look back you will notice that God has won the battle for you. In spite of all the pressure that Paul went through, they dragged him like an animal to the theatre. The theatre could seat twenty-five thousand people, they were using it for the arts, then the gladiators. Yet the church stood and waxed strong. You cannot kick against Christ and survive; every one that kicks against Him becomes history – every single one!

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus” Who was Paul’s letter addressed to? Paul’s letter was addressed to the saints who are in Ephesus. I thought saints are supposed to be in heaven. There is a part of the church that teaches that the saints are in heaven. But we see in the Bible that saints are here on earth. In fact, there are saints your local church. I know for a lot of us the thought on our minds is, what? I am not a saint! You will be by the time the Holy Spirit is done with you today.

If you compare scripture with scripture, you will see that this is not an isolated case. Rom.1:⁷ (NRSV) “To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor.1:² (NRSV) “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours”. It is a big fat lie that you have to get to a special status to become a saint. The only thing that qualifies you is;

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”

When you see things about St. Peter, St. Cornelius, St. Thomas, St. Thaddeus – it is a big fat lie. I am not criticizing any church. I am just preaching the Word of God. You saw it in the Bible.

Prayer (hymn): Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling. Naked, come to Thee for dress, helpless, look to Thee for grace. Foul, I to the fountain fly, wash me, Saviour, or I die. Amen!